A Weekend With the Girls

After an ENTIRE YEAR of missing these girls -- Mary, Ashlea & Casey, three of my closest friends from hygiene school, came to stay & visit for an entire weekend. YEA

We actually had such a great time & were so busy catching up that I kept forgetting to take any pictures . . . which is SOOOO unlike me . . . 

Of course the weekend wasn't long enough. Because although we enjoyed many hours of girl talk, dining out several times, relaxing by the pool (with no children), and staying up late watching chick-flicks (all luxuries I seldom enjoy), I was reminded of why I miss these ladies so terribly much.  

Thanks for the visit & looking forward to our next-- LOVE YOU GIRLS

The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. 

Psalm 91:14-15

Andrew's 31st

Happy Birthday Andrew(these new super-cheesey smiles from my little man are killing me)

We celebrated Andrew's birthday over a couple days this year, starting Saturday evening with dinner at Sassy's BBQ. He's been wanting to eat here for probably a year now and we've just never made down there. We couldn't have been blessed with more perfect weather and the patio was so cute and charming. 

Such a nice evening. After filling our bellies we headed over to Locomotion for a round of mini-golf. We took Hunter last year, but since he really couldn't quite remember it, this was such a fun new experience for him.

And check out that stance . . . a pro in the making

HOLE - IN - ONE

This picture cracks me up - LOL - he was trying to be a good sport for mommy's picture obsession . . . but sometimes you just need a potty break   : )

72 degrees on a Saturday night in the Summer . . . 

doesn't get much more enjoyable than that

Such a perfect evening

Hunter & I made Daddy's favorite birthday cake 

Fun-Fetti Cupcakes

And so we celebrated by the pool the next day too . . .

Until my little man was so worn out that all he wanted was to "take a rest" belly down on the warm concrete

And then kept on celebrating the next evening when UPS delivered his birthday present . . .

While we were out, Andrew moved Hunter's truck into its fastest gear . . .

Now he can really cruise around in his ride

Babe,

I pray this year brings you more joy & love than you've ever imagined, and that 31 will be remembered as a year of wonderful memories.  You bless us everyday with your hard work, dedication, strength, and love for our family. 

Happy Birthday & We Love You . . .  

Your Favorite 3

However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.
Ecclesiastes 11:8

Andrew's 1st Tough Mudder

"Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. By running a Tough Mudder challenge, you’ll unlock a true sense of accomplishment, have a great time, and discover a camaraderie with your fellow participants that’s experienced all too rarely these days." 

I was looking through my picture files the other night and came across pictures from a race that Andrew and several friends ran in April.  It took place during those groggy days of exhaustion and nausea, which probably while it got left out . . . but I know my hubby had a blast & I was proud of him for completing the challenge, so I wanted to make sure it made it in our "album."


Ready to complete their 1st TOUGH MUDDER

Andrew, Davin, Mark, & Brian

It was a "guys trip" so I was unable to pictures of my own . . . so the rest of these are borrowed from Tough Mudder.

After taking the "Tough Mudder Pledge" and the whistle blew, the event that prides itself on teamwork and camaraderie began.

Almost immediately, they faced their first challenge: 

Underwater tunnels (swimming under barrels that were lined across the middle of the pond)  Not to mention the water was 38 degrees!

--THERE'S MY MAN--

After that obstacle, they then ran a stretch of 12 miles that lead to a total of 26 other obstacles including the:

Arctic Enema (swimming through an ice-filled pool)

Dirty Ballerina (jumping into six feet of water then climbing back to dry land - repeating about 15 times until you reached the end)

 Boa Constrictors (under-muddy-water tunnels)

Walk The Plank (15 ft jump & swim)

Electric Eel (a belly crawl under electric wires)

 Devils Beard (crawling through a nasty net of mud)

 Berlin Walls (scaling a series of 12 ft high, wet & muddy walls)

Cliff Hanger (steep & muddy motor cross slope to test teamwork)

Hold Your Wood (show off any lumberjack skills)

Creek Crusade & Mud Mile (sledging through waste deep water without losing a shoe while hurdling through these muddy trenches)

Funky Monkey (watch out for bars greased with butter while trying to keep out of the frigid water)

Trench Warfare (a dark & muddy, underground, hay-stuffed tunnel crawl)

Twinkle Toes (testing balance while crossing these log beams) 

Ball Shrinker (try not to fall in icy water while crossing this rickety rope bridge)

One of the boys favorite obstacles was Everest. They had to run up a 15 foot tall, very slick & muddy half pipe, jump and try to grab onto the ledge and pull themselves up. This obstacle really shows what Tough Mudder is all about: 

“Leave No Mudder Behind.”

Log Jammin (jumping over and crawling under logs)

. . . straight into the Kiss Of Mud (8in tall barbed-wire crawl through the mud)

There was also an obstacle called Dangerous Terrain where they had to run through another creek, filled with rocks and knee deep water.

Tough Mudder’s most well-known obstacle, Electroshock Therapy, was the last obstacle on the course. They had to run to the Finish Line trying to get through the field of live electrical wires, with some carrying up to 10,000 volts.

Andrew said that he'd expected the shock to feel similar to little ones he'd received around the house, but was really surprised with their actual intensity. In fact, after their group crossed the FINISH LINE and were celebrating, they realized that Davin had taken a hard, face-first fall into the mud after receiving a 10,000 volt shock that knocked him unconscious for a moment.

 

I think us wives heard stories from this crazy experience for weeks . . . hahaha

And even though, in no-way-shape-or-form, does this sound or look fun to me, I'm so glad that I have an athletic and adventurous husband that can get out and enjoy life to its fullest.

Congrats Andrew, and all you other boys that joined him in completing the race.  I'll be excited to watch & take my own photos at the next one.  ;)

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power." 

2 Timothy 1:7